Torch type highway flare



Oct. 29, 1957 I J. Russ, JR

TORCH TYPE HIGHWAY FLARE Filed Sept. 4, 1956 1 Q N \m AMY I H.,..M..,|,U,,H.|,l,.,... my l l a i l 1 I .v o

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marre/21(5) TORCH TYPE HIGHWAY John Russ, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner of forty percent to Paul Kossman and twenty percent to Robert Brent-x Application September 4, 1956, Serial No. 607,837

2 Claims. (Cl. 67-55) My invention relates to torches, and more particularly to those suitable for use as warning ares on highways, for excavations and other places where warning or illumination is required.

My invention has for one of its objects the provision of a wick-holding device for a flare that is of generally tubular form, pointed at one end and open at the other end, so that the tubular body, together with the wick contained therein can be readily inserted into oil cans of standard forms such as those sold at gasoline stations.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character referred to, wherein the flame end of the wick is shielded against wind.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means for shielding the top of the can from the ame.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a sectional view showing the wick and its tubular holder inserted into the can;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional View showing a modification of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line lV-IV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows another modification; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view thereof, and Fig. 7 is a view of the stop ring.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the can 5 is suitably of conventional form. The holder 6 for the Wick 7 is of tubular form beveled at its lower end, so as to produce a sharpened point, whereby it may puncture the top of the can to permit insertion of the tube. The wick 7 will be frictionally supported in the tube and can be manually moved upwardly as may be required for the torch ame. The upper end of the tube has a hood-like extension 8 that may be of approximately semi-circular form so as to shield the llame from winds.

The burner attachment, that comprises the tube 6 and the wick 7, can be carried loosely' in an automobile or service Vehicle, ready for insertion in a can of fuel oil or grease that can be purchased at gasoline stations or conveniently carried.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, I show a structure similar to that in Fig. 1, in that it has a wick holder 10 Patented Get. 29, 1957 with its hood 11 and in addition, has a shield plate 12 that snugly tits the upper end of the tube 10, in position to shield the top of the can against the heat of the torch flame and also to deflect gas from such slight leakage as may occur from within the can, thereby avoiding explosions.

Deflection of the metal as indicated at 13, when piercing the can end and inserting the tube, results in some gripping of the tube to hold it in place.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the wick holder comprises a metal strip 15 bent to partially circular or channel form instead of being bent to completely tubular shape as in Fig. 2, and is pointed at its lower end, the upper end being provided with a hood 16. The wick 17 is held in place by crimping inwardly lower edge portions of the holder 15 and by a split ring 18 that has a spur 19. The ring can initially be approximately straight, and when it is bent to circular form, the point 19 will enter into the wick, and the ring will snugly grip the upper portion of the tube 15. The ring 18 therefore not only supports the upper portion of the wick, but can serve as a stop device that will engage the upper end of the can and prevent the holder 15 from being pushed too far into the can, and also as a sealing ring against the top of the can.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a can that contains a combustible iluid, of a wick holder tubular in form and open at both ends, the lower end of the tube being pointed and punched through the upper end of the can, a hood on the upper end of the tube, the hood consisting of an extension from the upper end of the tube and bent in a generally vertical and horizontal direction above the body portion of the tube, that side of the hood opposite its convex wall being open to expose a flame in the hood, a wick protruding from the ends of the tube, the upper end of the wick extending into the lower part of the hood, and a shield plate surrounding the tube and carried thereby at a plane below the hood and being spaced above the can end, in position to shield the can from the ame and to deilect gases, which may seep from the can at the tube wall.

2. A combination as recited in claim 1, wherein the shield plate is of generally curved contour positioned eccentrically on the tube, with its widest radial area disposed beneath the extended hood.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 301,104 Batchelder Sept. 18, 1860 538,110 Hellings Apr. 23, 1895 538,031 Anton Apr. 23, 1895 2,441,242 Harkins May 11, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,826 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1912 

